ISO 18264:2022

Overview

ISO 18264:2022 - Textile slings - Lifting slings for general purpose lifting operations made from fibre ropes - High modulus polyethylene (HMPE) - defines safety, rating and testing requirements for lifting slings constructed from HMPE fibre ropes. Applicable to HMPE ropes with a reference number between 12 and 72, this ISO standard covers general-purpose lifting operations (routine, non‑engineered lifts) and provides guidance on design factors, working load limits and verification. It explicitly excludes lifting of persons and high‑risk or special lifts (e.g., molten metal, acids, glass sheets, fissile materials, nuclear reactors).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Material scope: HMPE fibre rope slings (reference numbers 12–72); includes requirements for coatings, covers (sleeves/jackets) and other components.
• Sling constructions & fabrication: Accepted constructions, splicing considerations, interactions with fittings and connection hardware.
• Design factor and WLL: Principles for deriving the design factor (safety factor) and calculating the Working Load Limit (WLL) for different lifting configurations and bending losses.
• Effective work length (EWL): Determination and documentation of finished sling length under reference load.
• Verification & testing:
  • Type tests and methodologies to verify Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS) and sling/fitting interaction.
  • Manufacturing tests: visual inspection, effective work length checks, proof testing and breaking force tests.
• Marking, labelling and traceability: Requirements for sling identification, traceability codes and manufacturer’s certificate.
• User guidance: Mandatory instructions manufacturers must provide for selection, use, inspection and maintenance (normative annex and suggested information).

Practical applications

• Ensures consistent safety and performance when using HMPE textile slings for warehouse lifts, cargo handling, marine rigging and general industrial lifting.
• Used by manufacturers to design and certify HMPE rope slings, and by rigging contractors, safety/inspection personnel, and procurement teams to specify compliant slings.
• Supports compliance when selecting slings for routine lifts where no special engineering deviations are required.

Who should use ISO 18264:2022

• Sling manufacturers and fabricators
• Lifting equipment designers and engineers
• Lifting supervisors, competent persons and safety inspectors
• Procurement/specification writers for industrial, maritime and construction sectors

Related standards

Normative and informative references used in ISO 18264 include (selected):

• ISO 9554, ISO 10325 (HMPE rope specifications)
• ISO 2307 (rope physical/mechanical tests)
• ISO 1968 (rope vocabulary)
• ISO 12100 (risk assessment)
• ISO 2415, ISO 7597, ISO 8539, ISO 16798 (fittings and components)

Using ISO 18264:2022 helps organizations standardize HMPE sling safety, testing and traceability for reliable, compliant general‑purpose lifting operations.